Our first order of business was to get familiar with our monster avatars. The second was just as crucial—gearing up for battle.
Each of us had been equipped with Revival Bracelets, enchanted tools that allowed us to resurrect endlessly, no matter how many times we fell. A convenient item, yes, but not enough. These avatars were newly forged—low-tier monsters with no real strength yet. As things stood, we were nothing more than fragile shells, unable to even scratch a member of the Green Rebellion.
That would soon change.
"If we're going to stand a chance," I declared, my voice steady and commanding, "we'll need real weapons. Let's find Kurobee—I'll have him forge us armor worthy of Eterna's champions."
Veldora folded his arms, laughing boisterously. "Oh ho! I see! If we stayed as we are, I'd be nothing more than a creaky skeleton!"
"Fufufu!" Ramiris puffed her chest with pride. "My body's a slime—the agile extraordinaire! I'm goo-d to go just like this!"
Milim tilted her head. "If I'm a set of armor… can I even wear armor?"
I gave her a look. "Who knows? Maybe you'll find a way. Let's check first. Milim, you stay behind and keep watch."
"W-what?! No way! I want gear too!" she protested, bouncing in place.
I smirked slightly. "You could've just said so earlier, Milim."
I too wanted some new gear. The thought of standing unarmed in Eterna didn't sit well with me. So, I disengaged from my avatar with a simple command.
"To return to your real body, just say 'Exit,'" I explained, demonstrating the process. "Your consciousness will leave the avatar and return to your body. The Avatar Core will record all data of your monster form—so don't lose it."
I lifted the crystal orb—the Avatar Core—so they could see it clearly. "Each one is unique to its owner. Guard it well. It represents your existence here. You can summon your avatar again anytime you wish."
Ramiris nodded thoughtfully. "That's amazing… but where do we keep our original bodies when we're possessing the avatars?"
Veldora, already reverted to his original form, tapped his chin. "Hmm. Maybe we can seal them in the bracelet?"
"That's what I was thinking too!" Ramiris chirped, stroking her orb affectionately.
"Do that," I told them. "I'll have Kurobee reinforce the bracelets as well."
Then I glanced over at Milim. "Oi, Mili—"
Before I could finish, she jumped into my arms—still in her slime avatar form. "I'm staying like this! Let's go!"
I sighed, though there was a faint smile beneath it. "Still as stubborn as ever…"
She was completely taken by her new form—childishly attached, but that was Milim for you. You couldn't reason with her when she set her mind on something. I decided to just let it go.
We made our way to Kurobee's workshop.
"Are you there, Kurobee?" I called.
"Oh! Atem-sama! What an honor—please, come in!"
Kurobee emerged from the back, wiping sweat from his forehead. The heat of the forge pulsed through the air. Seeing Veldora and Ramiris with me, he froze for a brief moment, clearly surprised.
"I need new weapons and armor," I said simply as I entered.
"Yes, of course!" he replied, straightening up.
It had been a while since I last stepped into his forge. The number of apprentices had multiplied—monsters and artisans alike, all working feverishly under the fiery glow of molten metal. The heat would have been unbearable for most, but I barely noticed.
"You've gathered quite the team," I remarked.
"Yes," Kurobee said proudly. "Thanks to your leadership, Atem-sama. They've still got much to learn, but I see potential in all of them."
We moved through the workshop together. Every hammer strike echoed with discipline. When the apprentices noticed me, their tools stopped mid-air. One by one, they rose, standing stiffly and saluting in perfect unison.
I paused, observing them with calm authority.
Kurobee frowned and barked, "Don't just stand there—get back to work!"
I understood their reaction. They weren't just seeing their lord—they were standing before the ruler of Eterna.
In my old life, I had seen this kind of reaction before. When an executive visited a common workplace, even the smallest details were perfected—the nervousness, the rigid posture, the anxious glances. Rank created distance, whether intended or not.
Still, I preferred composure over fear.
"Enough," I said. My voice carried easily through the room, commanding silence. "You don't need to act so tense around me. I trust your work.
Focus on your craft."
The tension melted from their faces as I continued, "Next time, I'll send word before visiting. I don't intend to disrupt your flow."
They relaxed instantly, nodding. I turned my gaze toward Kurobee. "Let's see your latest creations."
He led me deeper into the forge. Flames danced off the walls, reflecting across blades still being forged.
As I walked, something unexpected crossed my mind. I had noticed admiration in their eyes—something beyond respect.
Later, I'd come to learn why.
Without my knowledge, Eterna had held a popularity contest. The top three "idols" of the nation were… myself, Shuna, and Shion. Apparently, the competition wasn't even close. Ramiris and Milim had been in the running too, but I had secured the top spot effortlessly.
When I found out, I couldn't decide whether to sigh or laugh.
Was I supposed to be proud? Or was this simply another show of how far my people's enthusiasm had gone? Either way, their devotion… it was real.
"Which types of gear do you need?" Kurobee asked directly as we entered his private quarters. His tone was sharp—straight to the point, the way I liked it.
"About that—" I started, glancing at the others.
Since he asked, we began listing the gear we wanted. Weapons, armor, enchantments—everything that could enhance our new avatars' power.
"I want to ask Garm to craft some armor for us," I said decisively. "You two have always worked well together. It'll be good to see that partnership again."
Kurobee nodded. "You have a point, Atem-sama. I was planning to check on him anyway."
And with that, we headed to Garm's workshop.
When we arrived, the usual noise of hammering and grinding filled the air, but the moment we stepped in, everything stopped. The room went still. All eyes turned toward us.
Garm, who had been in the middle of forging a blade, blinked when he saw our avatars. "Gear for monsters?" He rubbed his chin, intrigued. "Master, you never cease to come up with fascinating ideas."
We each activated Possession, taking control of our monster avatars right before his eyes. The sight left Garm speechless for a moment, but then his face broke into a grin.
"I understand," he said, excitement flashing in his eyes. "Then I'll make exactly what you asked for—no, something even better!"
Kurobee chuckled beside him. "You can count on me as well. I'm getting fired up already. I'll craft gear so powerful no human could even dream of wielding it!"
The two blacksmiths began sketching designs and exchanging ideas, already lost in their creative trance. Their energy filled the workshop like the roar of an awakening forge.
I folded my arms, watching them with a faint smirk. "Good. I expect nothing less than perfection."
Leaving them to their work, I turned to the others. "Let's move. It'll take time to complete these weapons. Until then, we train."
Days passed as we waited for our equipment. We spent that time pushing our avatars to their limits.
We started on the upper floors, fighting wild monsters and ambushing new adventurers who entered the labyrinth. Each battle taught us something new—about timing, coordination, and control.
But our early days were… embarrassing.
We were losing. A lot.
Even beginner teams could beat us. And the worst part? Sometimes, we fell to our own traps.
There was one incident I'll never forget. Ramiris tripped a snare trap, which flung her straight into Veldora. The two tumbled across the floor in a mess of limbs and curses. I floated above, trying not to laugh—only for Milim to get blasted upward by a ceiling trap seconds later.
It was chaos.
"Ramiris!" I barked, trying to sound stern but failing to hide my grin. "How in the world did you manage that?"
Ramiris crossed her arms, pouting. "It wasn't my fault! The floor just… betrayed me!"
Veldora groaned, still tangled in the trap's wires. "You fool, you dragged me into it!"
Milim hung upside down from the ceiling, giggling. "Hehe, this is kinda fun!"
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Remind me why I brought you three again?"
Those moments tested my patience, but they also strengthened our teamwork. We learned, adapted, and improved.
I refused to let simple mistakes slow us down. Using my divine power, I developed a set of magic tools that prevented us from triggering our own traps. It wasn't elegant, but it worked.
Still, the memory of those early blunders lingered—amusing in hindsight, though at the time, it made my blood boil.
Training became our life. We fought day and night, never resting. Coordination was key. But that was easier said than done—especially with Veldora and Milim, who were always charging ahead like overexcited children.
"Milim! Don't rush in alone!" I commanded, my tone sharp.
"But I can handle it!" she yelled back, slamming her slime avatar into a group of enemies.
"Until you get surrounded again," I muttered, then raised my hand. A golden light pulsed from my palm. "Solarys, open the link—Telepathy Net."
『Understood, Atem. Connection established.』
Solarys, the Sovereign of Wisdom, instantly linked our minds.
With this divine network, I could issue silent commands, coordinate movement, and predict the enemy's next steps in real time. My mind became the command post—Veldora, Milim, and Ramiris were my frontline soldiers.
Under my guidance, we moved as one. Precision replaced chaos. Our power multiplied exponentially.
In just a few days, our group evolved from a band of misfits into a formidable strike unit.
Eventually, a messenger arrived at my chamber in Eterna's central hall. "Atem-sama! Urgent report—the Green Rebellion has broken through Floor Forty-Nine!"
I rose from my seat instantly. "So, they finally defeated the Tempest Serpent…"
Ramiris gasped. "They actually did it?!"
Veldora's expression hardened. "Their strategy must've been perfect. They've improved."
I listened silently as the report continued.
"Their formation is… exceptional," the messenger said. "They send the first team to gather data, then deploy secondary forces to drain the guardian's stamina. The final team finishes the battle with surgical precision."
It was clever—textbook strategy, but effective. The labyrinth's guardians revived after defeat, but fatigue and wounds lingered. That imbalance gave the challengers an edge.
"That was our oversight," I admitted, my tone grave. "We focused on resurrection but not recovery. The guardians should've had a means to heal themselves."
"But those monsters fight purely on instinct," Veldora argued. "They're not smart enough to use healing items."
He was right—but I wasn't without options.
"Perhaps…" I looked toward the garden beyond the hall. "We could request Treyni's assistance. Her sisters manage the labyrinth's flow. If anyone can heal the guardians during extended battles, it's them."
Ramiris brightened. "Ah! That's a great idea! I'll go ask Treyni!"
"Do it," I commanded. "Tell her it's from me personally."
Within hours, Treyni and her sisters joined the labyrinth management team, weaving restorative magic into the labyrinth's inner veins. Guardians could now recover between battles, maintaining balance once again.
Step by step, problem by problem, we refined Eterna's defenses.
Our avatars grew stronger. Our coordination sharper. And I could feel it—the rhythm of the labyrinth pulsing in harmony with my will.